1
as in hampered
to create difficulty for the work or activity of
the only thing holding them back from joining the swim team is lack of transportation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stifled
to refrain from openly showing or uttering
held back her tears until she was alone
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of held back
Test scores are just one data point that may be used in determining if a child should be held back, alongside classroom grades, teacher recommendations and attendance.
—
Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 29 May 2026
Reporting teams have held back on submitting story pitches about important news topics out of fear of the internal repercussions.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 28 May 2026
Any momentum Porter might have had was blunted by the videos, and she’s been held back ever since.
—Matt Fleming, Oc Register, 27 May 2026
It would have been misguided to paint himself as the bold employee held back by the ownership’s shackles.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 16 May 2026
The uptick, however, is the first since 2024, and that year’s increase was at least partly an after-effect of the previous year’s strikes when networks held back a few shows that had been initially developed for 2023-24.
—Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2026
And clinical trials for far-UVC continuous disinfection, a different wavelength that can operate safely in occupied rooms, could change the economics entirely by eliminating the room-turnover delay that has held back current UV-C adoption.
—Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
But plenty in Waddle’s circle believe he was held back in two straight sub-1,000 yard seasons the last two years with quarterback and organizational instability.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 14 May 2026
Residents who stood their ground held back forty-foot flames armed with only garden hoses.
—Literary Hub, 13 May 2026
Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 29 May 2026
Reporting teams have held back on submitting story pitches about important news topics out of fear of the internal repercussions.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 28 May 2026
Any momentum Porter might have had was blunted by the videos, and she’s been held back ever since.
—Matt Fleming, Oc Register, 27 May 2026
It would have been misguided to paint himself as the bold employee held back by the ownership’s shackles.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 16 May 2026
The uptick, however, is the first since 2024, and that year’s increase was at least partly an after-effect of the previous year’s strikes when networks held back a few shows that had been initially developed for 2023-24.
—Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2026
And clinical trials for far-UVC continuous disinfection, a different wavelength that can operate safely in occupied rooms, could change the economics entirely by eliminating the room-turnover delay that has held back current UV-C adoption.
—Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
But plenty in Waddle’s circle believe he was held back in two straight sub-1,000 yard seasons the last two years with quarterback and organizational instability.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 14 May 2026
Residents who stood their ground held back forty-foot flames armed with only garden hoses.
—Literary Hub, 13 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for held back
Verb
-
But like Hulst, he was also hampered by injuries.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
-
Clark is finally at full strength again after, hampered by a groin injury, played in only 13 games a year ago.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
Verb
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The war has stifled the flow of oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.—
Damian J. Troise,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
-
And while the state has seen strong GDP growth in recent months, business groups still worry that this economic success could be stifled by limited job growth and economic uncertainty in the wake of federal policy changes.—
P.R. Lockhart,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
No creativity Tottenham’s absence of a natural ball progressor in midfield hindered their capabilities in attack.—
Elias Burke,
New York Times,
25 May 2026
-
Response efforts in the DRC have been hindered by budget strains at the WHO — which the US left this year — as well as sudden Western aid cuts to Africa.—
Semafor Events,
semafor.com,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
People were craving the culture and art that had been suppressed during his oppressive reign.—
Althea Legaspi,
Rolling Stone,
27 May 2026
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The Supreme Court spent much of the January oral arguments grappling with the biological advantage men tend to have over women in sports, and whether there is validity to claims that a man’s biological advantage can be suppressed by hormone drugs.—
Jack Birle,
The Washington Examiner,
27 May 2026
Verb
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Aid workers have also told CNN that the dismantling of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and US funding cuts carried out prior to the outbreak have impeded the response.—
Erikas Mwisi,
CNN Money,
24 May 2026
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In a twist that feels somewhere between Misery and Triangle of Sadness, it's revealed that Linda has not only hidden the true nature of the island from Bradley, but has intentionally impeded them from getting help.—
Brianna Zigler,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 May 2026
Verb
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The city of Kiruna in Arctic Sweden is being slowly swallowed by the iron ore mine upon which it was built.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
25 May 2026
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Nate was a piranha in a small pond who found himself in a dangerous ecosystem, swallowed by bigger, more dangerous predators.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2026
Verb
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Some fans weighed in on his outfit choice on social media, sparking conversations about if the actor might have embarrassed his wife.—
Juliana Ukiomogbe,
InStyle,
27 May 2026
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The Sixers were embarrassed by the Knicks 144-114 in Game 4 in front of a New York-heavy crowd in South Philadelphia.—
Tom Dougherty,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
Verb
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Congress must pass the SACRED Act, new bipartisan legislation that would establish 100-foot safe access zones around houses of worship, ensuring that Americans can pray without being intimidated or obstructed.—
Jonathan Greenblatt,
Sun Sentinel,
27 May 2026
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This month, a senior operations officer at the CIA alleged to Congress that the agency had obstructed those investigative efforts and claimed that the computer activity of DIG personnel was monitored.—
Sarah N. Lynch,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Held back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/held%20back. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.
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